Tips to Start Strong

Ten Tips to Start Strong

New To Functional Fitness?

Check out these 10 tips to start strong. And get stronger.
We’ve all been there. The new kid in the group class, standing quietly against the back wall, trying not to stare at the girl lifting twice your body weight. Working out with Functional Fitness veterans can be a little intimidating. But before you sneak out the back door, or wrench your back trying to out-deadlift your neighbor, take a deep breath. Then take a minute to review these 10 simple tips on how to start strong, stay safe, and most importantly, have fun.

1. Your biggest competitor is you.

Don’t worry about how much everyone else in the class is lifting, how many rounds they’re getting, or how quickly they finish. Pace yourself, keep the weight light, focus on getting the proper form and technique down — and the rest will come. Before you know it, you’ll start blowing away your previous times, rounds and PRs (personal records).

2. There’s no shame in scaling.

Seriously. You’ve got nothing to prove, and your safety to protect. Use common sense and scale the weight down, do a modified version of the movement or a substitute for the more difficult exercises.  No one’s judging you. In fact, we can guarantee that everyone in your class is rooting for you, whether you’re doing one push-up or 100.

3. You are what you eat

If you want to see any improvement in your performance, you’ve got to put down that bag of Doritos, take a pass on the morning doughnuts at the office, and lay off the Diet Coke. We’re not pushing any crazy fad diets on you or telling you to starve yourself. We’re just suggesting some simple common nutrition sense. Eat vegetables and lots of them, quality sources of protein (grass-fed, wild, organic), some fruit, good fats like coconut, nuts and avocados — and stay away from sugar and starchy foods that turn into sugar. We’ve got tons of nutrition info, recipes and resources on our website, so check it out.

4. There are no stupid questions.

If you don’t get something, ask you coach to explain it again. And again. And again. Chances are, everyone else in the class could do with the refresher too. A lot of these moves and skills are difficult and require no small amount of technique. We’re here to make sure you learn them properly, and feel comfortable doing them. So ask away.

5. Don’t let Functional Fitness consume you.

Functional Fitness should enhance your life, not engulf it. Yes, our group classes and athletes can get a bit competitive. But it’s always a friendly and supportive environment here. You may leave some of the classes feeling destroyed, but you should never walk away feeling defeated, discouraged or depressed. You should end each WOD with a sense of accomplishment and pride. The minute it stops becoming fun, or starts becoming your entire life, it may be time to take a step back and put things into perspective. If you’re not sure how, talk to your coach.

6. It will always suck, just not as bad.

Trust us, the guy banging out 100 pull-ups next to you is suffering just as much as you are. As you get stronger, faster, more powerful and more skilled (which believe us, you will, faster than you think), you’ll up the intensity of your WODs. So while the workouts don’t get easier (in fact, they’ll get harder), the suck-factor becomes increasingly more tolerable — and weirdly enjoyable — every time.

7. Don’t be so hard on yourself.

Some days, you’re just going to be tired. Some workouts will not be your forté. And sometimes you just can’t seem to get the moves together. It happens to all of us. Even on your worst days in the gym, you’re still getting an awesome workout. So don’t skip a WOD just because you think you’ll suck at it or are feeling less than rock-star-ish. Get in there and just do your best.

8. Lighten up.

We’re not just talking about weight loads. Remember, you’re here to have a great time while getting into the best shape of your life. We’ve got an awesome gym, with a great group of incredibly friendly, funny and interesting people. Don’t be shy. Introduce yourself. Feel free to joke around and laugh at yourself. And soon you’ll be making some very cool friends.

9. You Are Great.

Here in our gym, we consider every one of our athletes great. It takes huge faith just to show up and do these crazy WODs. Be proud of yourself and what you accomplish here.

10. Give yourself a break.

Functional Fitness is addicting. The more you suffer, the more you want it. But resist the urge to train yourself into the ground. Rest days are crucial to how well you perform in the gym. So are a good night’s sleep, good eating habits, and a good vacation every now and then. If you feel yourself getting worn down or crazy tired, take an extra day or two off. Listen to your body, and it will tell you when you need to slow down, take it easy, lay off certain moves, and allow for some recovery. Then when you’re ready to get back in the gym, you’ll rock it even harder.